Hydraulic air-compressor and vacuum producer



'5. SKIDMURE, JR. HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR AND VACUUM PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12|1918` Patented Oct. 4, 192i.

s-sHVEET 1.

B. SKIDMORE, JR. HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR AND VACUUM PRODUCER.

APPLICATION FILED Aufmz, 1918.

1,392,857. Patented-Oct. 4, 1921.

TS-SHEET 2- um. Il l NUS.: ha I i l@ I" w FAQS l U l I [MII Q W) JR BENJAMrN SKInMoRE, JR., on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

HYDRAULIC nrnfconrnnsson Aun vAoUUM PRODUCER,

Lasa-,ssa

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

Application filed August 12, 1918. Serial No. 249.755.

To @ZZ whom t may concern i Be it known that I, BENJAMIN SKiDMoRE, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Tllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Air- Compressors and Vacuum-Producers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic air compressors and vacuum producers and hasV for its object to provide improved means for removing a portion of liquid from a body or supply of liquid, and which means also operates to deliver air or a gaseous fluid into the said body or supply Y to replace the liquid removed therefrom. In

my applications Serial Nos. 216618 and 249500 I have disclosed an apparatus ofthis type in which the liquid and fluid transferring means is operated by the direct action of the fluid thereon, but in the present application the liquid and fluid transferring means'is actuated by mechanism provided for that purpose. Y

.A further object of the present invention is to: provide an improved apparatus of this character embodying a vacuum chamber and a compression chamber, and means whereby liquid may be readily transferred from one of the chambers into the other chamber for creating a partial vacuum in one of the chambers or a compression in the other chamber by maintaining substantially constant liquid levels in the chambers.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other Vnew and useful objects as will appear the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the `accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and in which: i .i .Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of an improved apparatus of this character constructed in accordance with the principles' of this invention.

Fig; 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 2 2 Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

k Fig. 4 is a view similar toF ig. 1 of another -form of the invention. Y

Fig. 5 is a 'vertical sectional View taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings .and the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an apparatus embodying two chambers or reservoirs 10-11, preferably superposed, and arranged intermediate these reservoirs is a rotatable element 12 which is preferably cylindrical in cross section and is holl0w,'hav mg an entrance opening 13, the edges 14 of which are reduced or beveled as shown to permit the edges to pass freely through the water when the element is rotated. `element is rotatable about an aXle 15 which 1s journaled in suitable bearings 16, and motion is imparted thereto from a motor 17 through a suitable drive connection 18.

This element is adapted to rotate within a suitable casing or housing 19 formed in any suitable manner so as to encompass the periphery of the element, and the housing V1S: provided with an opening 21 having communication with the reservoir 10, and a similar opening 22 having communication with the reservoir 11, so that the only source of communication between the reservoirs 10 and 11 is through the housing or casing 19, and this communicating passage is controlled by the rotatable element 12 which is adapted, when in the position shown in Fig. 1. to receive the liquid from the reservoir 10, and when rotated, will, when the opening 13 registers with. the opening 22, discharge the liquid into the reservoir 11. After the liquid has been discharged from the element 12, the element will be filled with a gaseous fluid or vapor from the reservoir 11, so that when the element 12 is rotated further, so as to bring the openingvl into communication with the opening 21, the gaseous fluid or vapor will be delivered into the reservoir 10 through the liquid therein. This operation will create a suction or partial vacuum in the reservoir 11, which will be manifested in the pipe or conduit 23, and if desired, a controlling valve 24 may be provided in the passage 23. The gaseous iiuid or vapor which is withdrawn from the reservoir 11 and delivered into the reservoir 10, may be discharged from the latter through a pipe 25 to any suitable point, and a valve 26 may be provided in this pipe so that when the same is closed, the gaseous iiuid or vapor delivered into the reservoir 10 will be compressed therein. The compression is effected, preferably by maintaining the liquid in the reservoir 10 at a Substantially constant level, which may be accomplished The rio

liquid from flowing between the elementJ and ably 4in the portionsV in any suitable manner, such as by means of a centrifugal pump 27 Vwhich receives Vits supply of liquid through the pipe 28 which has communication with the reservoir V11 and discharges the liquid withdrawn fromv the reservoir 11 through a pipe 29 back into the reservoir 10. l

Thus, it will be seen that as the liquid is .removed from thevreservoir l0. it will be.

transferred back into the reservoir 10 from the reservoir 11. In the form of the invention shown in Figt 3, 'the rotatable element 30 is prefer-V form ot a solid cylindrical ele ment having diametrically opposite portionsnl- BQ removed therefrom to form pocketS Soas to increase the rapidity of ac ltion j of the apparatus.

In the form 'ot the invention showin in Figs. 4 and 5, the rotatable element 38V shown as 'being' elliptical or oval in cross section, the walls of the casing or housing i9V being so arranged'that when the element is in the position'sliown in Fig. ,'tlie endsV thereof will be in close proximity to the wall ofthe vcasing 0r housing -19 to prevent the the casing wall, and the flaty or elongated 84 of the element'will stand opposite'the'openings 21422 in the casing or housing. Af the element 33 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, it will loefmanifest vapor from the reservoir l1( thatl tlieportions 3ft ot the element will cof operate with the walls of the casing or hous- 35 ing 1 9 to form pockets, one of the pockets receiving liquid Vfrom the reservoir. 10, while directed against the element. This may be accomplished in any suitablevmanner, such as by means of a nozzle 3 5 of a desired and i f iro'ie'r'conii uration which is suo Dorted adl Y l jar ent the element with its outlet directed against the peripheryjthereof. The nozzle 'i is preferably supported by means of a pipe ifwhich'has communication; with the cen- V triiugal, pump 27, the latter being operated bymeans oi' the motor 17 in a manner similar to the manner Vshown inFig. 2.

' 'vf't isfthought that the operationfoi apparatus;will be clearly understood from the foregoing' specification. and with this improved apparatus, it will be manifest that the liquid will be intermittently removed in predetermined quantities'from the reservoir l()V and delivered into the reservoir 1l, atthe same time a predetermined quantity of gasveous fluid or vapor will be'removed from the reservoirll and discharged or delivered into Y the reservoir l0 to replace the liquid removedtherefrom, `with the result that a suction or partial vacuum will be created in the reservoir 1l, and acompressio'n maybe obtained in the'reservoir 10 by closing the valve 26. At the same time the liquid. is maintained at a substantially constant level in the reservoir lOby transferring the liquid back into the reservoir "10 from the reservoir l1. Y Y Y Y What is claimed as new is: Vl. An apparatus of the character scribed embodying a rotatable element, a'

reservoir for impounding `a desired quantity of waterat a Vdesired elevation above' said element,l saidjelement operating Vto control the discharge of waterl from `tliesaid reser-V voir; a reservoir for receiving water vdis-Y charged ljy said element, said Velement being shaped to withdraw Huid or vaporfrom the second recited reservoir and dlYer the s ame into the first recited ,reservoinf and` power mechanism connected withthesaidelement Y for rotating it.-

2. Afn apparatus of jtheicharacter described embodying a rotatable'element, al

reservoirfor impounding a desired quantity' of water at a desired'elevation'- above saidelement, said elementfoperating to control 'the discharge of 'water from the saidgreservoir, ajreservoi'r Vfor receiving water discharged by said element, said element being shaped lto withdrai'vfluidi or vapor from the Second recited reservoir and deliverV the same into the first recitedreservoir,v and ythrough the liquidinthelatter to be compressed, and powermechanism connected VVwith the said eleinentfor rotating it. Y

3. 'in VVapparatus of' the character de-A reservoir for impounding a desired quantity of water at a desired elevation above saidY element. said element; ,opeifating to control tliedischarge of .vater from Vthe sardfreserioaV . '119 scribed, embodyinga rotatable element, aV

voir, a reservoir `for Vreceiving water ,dis-11' chargedby said,element',V said element being shaped VtoV v ithd' rawtlu id or vapor from' the second recited reservoir and deliver-the same Y Y into the firstrecitedreservoir, power mecha'- nism .connectedwith the saidel'ementiiorrotating it', and means for 'maintaining the liq-` uid inthe Iirstv recitedreservoir atv a substantially constant. level.Y

4f; Air apparatus;Vv of :water at a Vdesired 'elevatiiona-bove SaidY ele- 'mentto be delivered to the element ,-p'ower mechanism connected with the said element tlre-A cliaiacterde- Y Y scribechembodying ar'otl ry element, reserr Y voir VforYimp0unding a d ired quantity 'of 'ist for rotating it, a reservoir for receiving water discharged by said element, said element being shaped to withdraw fluid or vapor from the second .recited reservoir and deliver the same into the iirst recited reservoir, and

c provisionsfor maintaining the liquid in the respective reservoirs at substantially constant levels, the said provisions embodying means other than the said element for transferring the liquid from one of the reservoirs into the other reservoir.

5. An apparatus ot the character described, embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for impounding a desired quantity of water above said element, a reservoir for receiving the water discharged by the element, a casing in which the said'element 1s housed, said casing having openings forming communications with the respective reservoirs whereby water will be delivered through the casing from one reservoir to the other bythe rotation of the element and whereby fluid or vapor will be withdrawn from the second recited reservoir and delivered into the iirst said reservoir, and power mechanism connected with the element for rotating it, the said element having portions thereof so shaped as to coperate with the wall of the casing to trap predetermined quantities of water, and vapor and fluid being withdrawn from their respective reservoirs to be delivered tothe other reservoir.

6. An apparatus of the character described, embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for iinpounding a desired quantity of water above said element, a reservoir for receiving the water discharged by the element, a casing in which the said element is housed, said casing having openings torming communications with the respective reservoirs whereby water will be delivered through the casing from one reservoir to the other by the rotation of the element and whereby fluid or vapor will be withdrawn from the second recited reservoir and delivered into the first said reservoir, and power mechanism connected with the element for rotating it, the said elementV having a portion shaped to form a pocket opening through the periphery thereof and which pocket is adapted to be closed by the casing wall.

7 An apparatus of the character described, embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for impounding a desired quantity of water above said element, a reservoir for receiving the water discharged by the element, a casing in which the said element is housed, said casing having openings :torming communications with the respective reservoirs whereby water will be delivered through the casing from one reservoir to the other by the rotation of the element and whereby iiuid or vapor will be withdrawn from the second recited reservoir and delivered into the irst said reservoir, and power mechanism connected with the element tor rotating it, the said element being ot' a hollowY construction having an opening through its periphery.

8,. An apparatus of the character described, embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for impounding a desired quantity of water above said element, a reservoir for receiving the water discharged by the element, a casing in which the said element is housed, said casing having openings forming communications with the respective reservoirs whereby water will be delivered through the casing from one reservoir to the other by the rotation of the element, and whereby fluid or vapor will be withdrawn from the second recited reservoir and delivered into the first said reservoir, and power mechanism connected with the element tor rotating it, the walls of the casing standing in close proximity to the periphery of the said element, and operating'to trap the liquid and the fluid or vapor as they pass through the casing.

9. An apparatus of the character described embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for impounding a desired quantity of water at a desired elevation above the element, a housing in which the element rotates, said housing having an opening communicating with the reservoir, and a discharge outlet, said housing being substantially cylindrical in cross section, the walls ot' the-housing standing in close proximity to the periphery of the element, and power mechanism connected with the element tor rotating it in the housing, said element being of a construction to coperate with the housing walls to convey the water through the housing and trap predetermined quantities of the water during its passage through the housing, the said element also operating to trap and convey a similar predetermined quantity of tluid or vapor and deliver the same into the reservoir.

10. An apparatus of the character described embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for impounding a desired quantity of water at a desired elevation above the element, a housing in which the element rotates, said housing having an opening communieating with the reservoir, and a discharge outlet, said housing being substantially cylindrical in cross section, the walls of the housing standing in close proximity to the periphery of the element, and power mechanism connected with the element for rotating it in the housing, said element being hollow and having an opening serving as an inlet and a'n outlet for the liquid, whereby the water will be conveyed through the housing and the casing wall will serve to close said opening, said element also operating to receive fluid or vapor after the Water has been discharged therefrom and deliver the same into the reservoir through the liquid therein 1l.V An apparatus of the character described embodying a rotatable element, a reservoir for ilnpounding a desired quantity Vof Water at a desired elevation above the tially cylindrical in cross Section, the WallsV of the Vhousing standing in elose proximity to the Vperipheryof the element, and power mechanism connectedawith the element for 15 rotating it inthe housing9 said-'element being shaped to form an open pocket Whereby the Water will be conveyed through the housingand the casing Wall Will serve to close Said opening7 said element also operat- 20 ingto receive-Huid or vapor after the water has been discharged therefrom and deliver the same into-the reservoir Athrough the liquid therein.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my 25 n name to this speciieatiomon this 8th day ot Aug-ust, D. 1918.V l

" SKIDMORE, Jn; 

